When Fitness is a Lifestyle

Let’s face it, if sheer willpower was all it took to lose weight, most of us would be the perfect size. I believe that most people try too hard to lose weight and to get in shape. Here's an example: Let’s say you are a bowler and it’s the 10th frame. If you are thinking and repeating in your head “do not throw a gutter ball” guess what happens? The ball goes right into the gutter. Why? That was the image in your brain. Do you think Tiger Woods says to himself “don’t swing and miss the ball”?

Are you trying to not be fat? Or are you trying to be healthy? Does a naturally thin person try really hard to be thin? How many hours per day do you waste worrying about what you can and cannot eat? If you are not feeling well and skip a workout do you feel that you are a failure?

The truth is that you need to make a lifestyle change that works for you. Let me say that again. You need to make a lifestyle change that works for you. That is why most diets fail, because you have to do the diet. Which, over a period of time, gets old and you go back to your old way of doing things. If keeping track of your food does not work for you then don’t do it. What I am not saying is become lazy and do not try. Find the line between being complacent and being neurotic.

What cracks me up is that most overweight people eat salads and drink diet pop, while people of normal weight seem to order what sounds good to them. Dieters have all kinds of diet rules (do not eat after 7:00, no carbohydrates after 2:00, sugar free, fat free etc…..). Normal weight people do not really follow any set rules.

The best examples are children that have not been corrupted by their parents. Kids will naturally eat the amount of food that satisfies them. Both my daughters have candy in their room from last Halloween. Making your kids clean their plate or giving them a false view on foods can haunt them for the rest of their lives. Has your upbringing affected how you view food? God bless the parents who want their kids to be healthy, but do not make your weight problem their problem.

Food is neither good nor bad, its just food. Why do we give it so much power? Food does not run the government, or have some special magic in it. All food contains is carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.

Imagine for a minute that you were the perfect weight, you had the perfect physique and you could eat whatever you wanted and stayed the same. How awesome is that? What is perfect? I have clients that are beautiful and they think they look like fat slobs. What if you are a few pounds overweight but other wise healthy? Would you rather be thinner and have high blood pressure or cancer? Who are you trying to look like, someone on TV or in a magazine? Get real, I have been measuring body fat for the past 5 years and could count on one hand the number of “perfect” bodies.

Our bodies are remarkable when it comes to regulating all our different systems. If you are cold you shiver, if you are hot you sweat. Do you think that if you were tuned into your body that you would know what to eat and how much? Why not? People that do not struggle with weight do just that.

The bottom line is life is short, enjoy the ride. Do the best you can to lead a healthy active lifestyle. Occasionally it’s OK to splurge. Just do not beat yourself up for not being perfect.

New Service Offered

The Sun Kim (pronounced Teyson Kim) is a professional hip hop dancer and personal trainer. She can teach you how to dance. We are offering one-on-one sessions or if you prefer she does group classes. Let us know if you would be interested.

Listen to what she has to say:

Since I’ve started dancing and teaching hip hop classes in the last few months, I've been surprised to find that most people have a strong desire to dance, but are deathly afraid to! Whether it’s always been a hidden desire, or you’re dancing out loud and people are laughing at you…fear no more. Functional Conditioning is now featuring a one-on-one hip hop dance session for beginners. You’ll have fun, get lost in the music, forget you’re working out, learn new dance steps you can take out with you on the weekends, AND lose weight!! Woo-hoo!!

The Top 10 Benefits of Dancing

1. Lose weight!!
2. Have F-U-N, get lost in the music, and forget you’re working out!
3. Learn new dance steps you can take to the dance floor!
4. Increase your energy levels.
5. Decrease your stress levels.
6. Decrease your appetite.
7. Improve your coordination.
8. Improve your self image.
9. Impress your loved ones with your new dance steps!
10. Learn to shake what yo mama gave ya!

Call Brian or The Sun at 303.467.7954 to schedule your session!

Client of the Month

Joe is going into his junior year at Pomona High School. Joe has an awesome work ethic. He gives his workouts 110% every time. Joe will be playing football on the offensive line. Joe is so special, because he has chosen to not eat like a typical teenager and instead he makes good food choices, even when his friends are giving him a bad time. Joe started working with me March 2005. Since that time his body fat has dropped from 18.8% to 11.7% dropping 21.6 pounds of fat. Joe is now in the best shape of his life. His football practices are now 2x per day, and he is not dying at the end of the day. I look forward to see him succeed in life no matter what he ends up doing.